This article contributes to the study of religion by investigating the ritual significance of the ancient nail, focusing on its material power in piercing curse tablets (defixiones, sing. defixio) in Mediterranean antiquity. It thus brings a humble object and the gestures and labor associated with it more centrally into the study of religion in antiquity. The article also contributes to the study of religion more broadly by developing a theoretical framework derived from contemporary artistic, material practices. I interpret these ancient ritual objects—the materiality and aesthetics of defixiones and the function of the nail—by engaging contemporary artworks by Valerie Maynard, Renée Stout, and Titus Kaphar. In the racial condition of the United States, these artists materialize theory regarding aesthetics, history, and justice, drawing in part from Kongolese minkisi minkondi, which were nailed and pierced to mark rituals of justice.

中文翻译：

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钉子的作品：宗教、地中海古代和当代黑人艺术

本文通过调查古代钉子的仪式意义，为宗教研究做出贡献，重点关注其在地中海古代刺穿诅咒牌（defixiones，sing.defixio）的物质力量。因此，它将一个不起眼的物体以及与之相关的姿势和劳动更集中地带入了古代宗教的研究中。这篇文章还通过建立一个源自当代艺术、物质实践的理论框架，为更广泛的宗教研究做出了贡献。我通过参与 Valerie Maynard、Renée Stout 和 Titus Kaphar 的当代艺术作品来解释这些古老的仪式对象——defixiones 的物质性和美学以及指甲的功能。在美国的种族条件下，这些艺术家将有关美学、历史和正义的理论具体化，